As a local arts agency, Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness (DNACA) provides support and excitement for all the creative arts to inspire community vitality, and harmony. Performance Series
For 40 years, DNACA has been bringing five top-quality, nationally- and internationally-known performing arts groups each season to Crescent City.
2. Residency Activities
Not only do these performing a
rtists give public performances, but they go into the schools and the community to give workshops, master classes, assemblies, and lectures/demos.
3. Courtesy Seats
Generous donations from local businesses and individuals make it possible to pass out free DNACA performance tickets to the developmentally disabled, mental health, substance abuse clients, and others who would not usually be able to attend.
4. Arts in Education
Each year, qualified local artists go into the Del Norte County K-8 schools to give workshops in a variety of arts media, including watercolor, paper collage, poetry writing, fiber arts, storytelling (American Indian and North Coast Tales), percussion demonstration, contemporary guitar, and more.
5. Art in Public Places
Rotating art shows organized by DNACA brighten the walls of the County Courthouse and the Crescent City Airport, giving local regional artists a chance to exhibit their work and residents a chance to view it. Once a year, usually from November to January, DNACA hosts a Juried Multimedia Exhibition at the Courthouse. Once a year, DNACA also hosts an "Art by Veterans" exhibit of works created by local veterans and their family members.
6. Arts in Corrections
DNACA is the coordinator for teaching artists who go to PBSP to lead arts classes, which include guitar, drawing, watercolor, and more to the inmates there. DNACA also helps coordinate an annual exhibit of art created at PBSP, which is shown at the Del Norte Courthouse.
7. Arts Calendars & Information
Arts and cultural event opportunities are highlighted in the “Arts Scene” in the Del Norte Triplicate and Curry Coastal Pilot as well as in the Community Arts Calendar on our web site, dnaca.net.
8. Poetry Out Loud
This poetry memorization and recitation program is held each year for high school students. Students study classical and modern poetry in the classroom, memorize poetry, and then present their recitations from the classroom level, through school-wide competition, at the County and State levels, and finally at the National level. This program helps students build appreciation for poetry, encourages self-expression and builds self-confidence.
9. Fair & Arts Alliance
In the summer of 2002, DNACA began joint programming with the Del Norte County Fair. Currently, that program consists of “Celebrating the Creative Arts of Veterans and Their Families,” a juried art show which hangs in the floral building throughout the duration of the fair.
10. Arts Networking
DNACA facilitates meetings of the informal Del Norte arts coalition and participates in arts networking and advocacy throughout the community, state, and nation.
11. Technical Assistance
Anyone who contacts us with an arts-related question will be helped. In 2010 and 2013, DNACA cosponsored Arts Salon I and II, a series of business assistance workshops for individual artists, along with the North Coast Small Business Development Center.
